Team USA Named Grand Champions at Jita Kyoei Cup in Peru

U.S. junior players won 29 gold medals on Saturday at the Jita Kyoei Cup in Lima, Peru, taking the Grand Champion title as well as the team awards for the Infantile and Juvenile divisions.

With 35 U.S. players competing, many of the athletes not only won their age division, but also fought up to win medals in older categories as well.

Thirteen-year-old Mindy Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri) was undefeated throughout the day. Chow won her 53kg Juvenile A (13-14-year-old) and then took gold with two wins by ippon (instant win) in the Juvenile B (15-16-year-old) division. Chow also won the women's 52kg gold medal with four victories.

Two-time Pan American Infantile Champion Carly Patton (Zephyrhills, Fla. / El Mambi Judo) continued to be unbeaten in competition outside the United States, winning gold medals in both the Juvenile A 53kg division and the Juvenile B 57kg division.

Nicole Taniguchi (Honolulu, Hawaii / Sogoro Judo Club) also was undefeated while fighting up during the day, winning the Juvenile A 40kg division and the Juvenile B 44kg division.

One of the youngest players on the team, 11-year-old Joshua Terao (Honolulu, Hawaii / Shobukan Judo Club) won a total of six matches en route to winning gold medals in two divisions - both his Infantile 2 31kg division as well as fighting up in both age and weight to win the Juvenile A 36kg division.

Max Golembo (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Cohen's Judo) fought for his first time in the Juvenile A 64kg division and adjusted well to the heavier weight, winning each of his four matches by ippon and taking second in the Juvenile B 66kg division.

Ruben Martin Jr. (Garland, Texas / Ruben Martin Judo) won all three of his Juvenile A matches by ippon to earn the gold medal in the 57kg division. Martin fought up to the Juvenile B division as well, taking a bronze medal.

Fifteen-year-old Andrew Porras (Hialeah, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami), the oldest player on the team, won all of his Juvenile B 73kg matches by ippon and placed third in a combined 18-player junior and senior division.

The team stayed in Lima on Sunday to participate in a training camp with their fellow competitors.

Team USA was coached by Jhonny Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami). Devin Cohen (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Kyushu Judo & Community Service Center) was the team manager and Greg Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri) served as the team doctor.